Hi! My name is Mrs. Prange and I love teaching 5th grade. I started teaching 5th grade at Pine Island in 2010, and I couldn’t be happier here. Personally, I think it is the BEST grade ever! I teach math and science to my homeroom as well as Ms. Swift’s homeroom, but I may also see some of Mrs. Ganrud’s and Mrs. Lenn’s students for Target time.
I grew up and graduated from high school in Red Wing, MN. I went to college in Winona, MN at Saint Mary’s University. I graduated with a K-6 Elementary Education degree with middle school endorsements in both math and language arts. I also graduated with a Psychology minor. I love learning so much that between October 2012 and May 2014 I went back to school at Saint Mary’s University for my masters degree. I now have my M.Ed in Teaching and Learning. Between June 2015 and August 2016, I also continued to take Graduate level courses so that I currently have an additional 30 credits beyond my masters.
My husband’s name is Jonathan and he works at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis for the technology department. We own a home in Red Wing, MN. In April 2016, we got our very first puppy! She is the cutest mini goldendoodle I've ever seen - although I might be biased. Her name is Minne, as we are both big Minnesota Gopher fans. In September 2016, our daughter Stella was born. Being a mom is the best thing ever, but teaching is a close second. We love getting to watch Stella grow and learn new things every day.
I am lucky to have both of my parents, Dan and Mary, as well as my older brother, Justin, and his wife, Abby, also live in Red Wing. Because we all live in the same town, I get to see my nephews, Jack and Lucas, and niece, Camden, a lot! I love being an auntie. My younger sister, Elle, lives and works in the metro area along with her new husband, Adam.
Growing up, I was a dancer. My mom owns a dance studio in Red Wing. Besides teaching 5th grade, I have been teaching dance at my mom’s studio since I was in high school. I continue to teach a little bit when I can during the school year. I have known I've wanted to be a teacher ever since I was a young girl. I am excited to continue growing as a teacher by trying new things in my classroom. I believe in offering learning experiences to my students that allow hands-on interaction. I feel this shows my students the real world benefits of learning. I am ready to differentiate for a variety of abilities and various learning styles to reach the needs of all of my students. I hope to instill the love of learning in every child and create self-motivated individuals. I will expect my 5th graders to be both responsible and to show respect. I am looking forward to another positive year!